Sepalcure - Pencil Pimp

Sepalcure - Pencil Pimp
As the year rolls on, it's becoming increasingly evident that Travis Stewart and Praveen Sharma have fenced off 2011 as their own. Individually they've been no stranger to plaudits—Stewart's Room(s), released under his longstanding Machinedrum guise, stands as one of the strongest of the year, while Sharma debuted his solo project Braille, releasing music on Rush Hour and Hotflush.

"Pencil Pimp" is the first cut from their forthcoming debut album as Sepalcure. Built around a restless, percussive spine—reminiscent of the sweat-slicked workouts of Room(s)—and a simple synth motif, the record remains in a state of evolution over its six minutes. Billowing pads form like dampeners around the frantic percussion while a soulful vocal weaves throughout the mix, sometimes prominent, sometimes distant and ghostly. Elements are introduced and explored, sometimes abandoned, giving "Pencil Pimp" a sense of momentum, anchored by shocks of bass.

"I'm Alright" is a more sedate affair, but maintains the warm tonality that Sepalcure have come to be associated with. Beginning with the chirrup of birdsong (yes, really), the blinds are quickly brought down, incubating a woozy, late night mood propped up with house stabs, planes of synths and call and response soul samples. While less interesting than the A-side, it manages to be comforting without being safe. Indeed, if either of these tasters are anything to go by, the growing anticipation surrounding Sepalcure's first full length is entirely justified.

More on Sepalcure

Sepalcure’s combination of love for bass and 90s house acapellas is the culmination of a cathartic two week collaboration between Travis Stewart (Machinedrum) and Praveen Sharma (Praveen & Benoît).
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